Game sightings

• The following herds were recently seen in Charara: Eland and Sable. (Charara usually only see Eland at this time of the year) The herds were quite tame and lovely to view
• Two female lions were seen three weeks ago at 5.30pm on the main Makuti - Kariba road at the Kuburi Cave sight. The lions held up traffic momentarily. The cave is approximately 36 km from Kariba below the road and into the side of the hill. Legend has it that the cave is very long and comes out at Chinhoyi. "Everyone that has gone into the cave has never been seen again."
• Visitors to Spurwing Island were given a rare treat recently with the sighting of a female Cheetah with two cubs in the Matusadona National Park. This is very exciting due to the cheetah relocation program, which began in 1992/93. Fourteen cheetahs were translocated from the Lowveld and Central Estate and the last translocation was in 1996. Translocation was decided on because in previous years cheetah had been sighted at Matusadona and at that point severe poaching was taking place in the Lowveld and Central Estate.
• Whilst taking some tourists up the Umi river this month, Barry Simpson (Simpson Cruises) sighted two Pels fishing owls, a painted snipe, a pygmy goose and some black capped night herons. Barry's clients were also incredibly lucky to see a wild Rhino.

Lake News

The last floodgate on the Kariba dam wall was finally closed on 12th August at 1400 hours. The lake level at that time was 486.56. The level today, Tuesday 22nd August at 0900 hours is 486.48. 

Kariba came to a stand still early in the month whilst the longest load (61m) ever to have travelled through Zimbabwe arrived in town. A heavy duty transport company have transported a 50m long Oxygen tank weighing 80 tons. The entire load consisting of 2 horses, weighed 230 tons. The trailer had 96 wheels. This tanker, made in Europe, left the port of Durban on the 8th June and arrived in the Copper Belt, Zambia on 8th August. The route survey alone cost $200 000.00. The most difficult part of the trip was the sharp turn left (after Kariba customs and immigration) before entering onto the Kariba dam wall…… Apparently, the driver only had one chance to do this!!

The first maiden voyage of the new houseboat "Par Excellence" was extremely successful two weeks ago. She is 85 ft long, which is the longest charter boat that GDI have commissioned since they started building boats.

The Vintage Car Club of Zimbabwe are due to arrive in Kariba on 26th August as part of their Vintage 2000 Safari, which will involve up to 50 Vintage and Classic vehicles dating from 1923. The Vintage 2000 Safari, is expected to attract a tremendous amount of interest particularly as such a large gathering of vintage and classic vehicles is rarely seen in Zimbabwe.  [...somebody must have released a private stash of fuel...]

Lions in Matusadona National Park by Hans van der Heiden
(Professional Hunter / Guide - Zimbabwe Registered) Buffalo Safaris, Kariba:

"With the increased water levels on lake Kariba over the past two rainy seasons, there has been a decline in the lakeshore buffalo population in the Matusadona National Park. The old established buffalo population, support one of the most lively and abundant lion populations in Southern Africa. However, now that the water has claimed the vast shoreline grassland areas, dominated by Panicum repens the major food supply has disappeared, as have the buffalo.

Not far from our waterborne Lake Wilderness Safaris Lodge in a quiet bay on the Matusadona shoreline, my staff came across about six adult female lions feeding on a 8ft (2.44m) crocodile. In my 33 years in the bush, I have never seen or heard of a crocodile being eaten by lions, (but have seen Croc's going for lions). The lions feeding on the croc were all well built in their prime, but with ribs showing, they were hungry. Two days later, we found a three to five month old hippo calf dead, most likely killed by the bull hippo near to our accommodation units. Crocs tried to eat it initially on the first night, but on the second night the hyenas came, and had a good feed. On the third night the Hyenas were back for a while, but did not stay as there was very little left of the little body. However, at about 06:30 in the morning, a pride of twelve lions came rushing in and after the initial squabbles, one female with a half grown cub ate the feet and head, and parts of the skin while the others left the scene and continued on their way.

Impala are now also under pressure from lions, and we see remains of their being eaten while on walks. Warthogs, though never abundant, are very scarce, and zebra are not coming into our area at all.

I believe that the lion population will be reduced dramatically by the time the rains arrive as there just is not enough food for the large population. While on the lion case, we have found some lions very aggressive, and they are charging us on walks more than in previous years. These are all signs that they are under pressure, and hunger is their main concern. Anyone coming into contact with lions in Matusadona must be very wary of approaching them, and a warning should be sent out to all houseboats and skippers.

(Please note that only Registered Professional Guides are permitted to take walks in the National Parks, and a Tour Operators License for the National Parks concerned is also needed)"

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